Ex-Compton Fire Chief Pleads No Contest To Radio Theft

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Southern California fire chief has pleaded no contest to stealing more than $300,000 of radio equipment to sell on eBay and setting a fire in a bungled attempt to hide the theft.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say former Compton Battalion Chief Marcel Dione Melanson entered the no contest plea Tuesday to arson and embezzlement. He’ll be sentenced to three years and four months in prison and must make restitution.

Authorities say Melanson stole nearly 100 city-owned radios and sold many of them. They also say Melanson set fire to radio equipment in 2011 in a failed attempt to cover up the theft.